BMW Ireland has announced Urban Aran and BiaSol as the two winners of its inaugural BMW Future Entrepreneur Competition, recognising two outstanding early-stage Irish businesses making an impact through innovation, sustainability, and creativity.
The competition was launched by BMW Ireland earlier this year, in partnership with Peigín Crowley, entrepreneur and BMW ‘Friend of the Brand’, and supported by Enterprise Ireland, to champion the next generation of Irish innovators.
The announcement was made during a networking lunch on Wednesday, 16th July at Cliff at Lyons, Kildare, where the ten shortlisted finalists came together with BMW representatives, industry leaders, and competition partners.
The winning businesses
Urban Aran, based in Waterford and founded by Christine Murphy, is a premium Irish knitwear brand blending traditional Aran techniques with bold, contemporary design. The label focuses on sustainable, locally made garments using 100% fine merino wool.
BiaSol, founded by siblings Ruairi and Niamh Dooley from Tullamore, Co. Offaly, transforms brewers’ spent grain into high-fibre, plant-based food products, creating a circular solution that addresses food waste and improves nutrition.
Helen Westby, Managing Director of BMW Ireland, said: “BiaSol and Urban Aran both stood out for their creativity, clarity of purpose, and potential to scale. Their entrepreneurial spirit perfectly reflects the values behind this competition – innovation, ambition, and a commitment to driving positive change. We’re delighted to support them on their entrepreneurial journey.”
As part of their prize, each winner will receive the use of a fully electric branded BMW iX1 or iX2 for a period in 2025, along with tailored mentoring support and a brand feature package including a professional photo and video shoot and promotional content via BMW Ireland’s social media platforms.
Guests also took part in a panel discussion and Q&A with the judging panel, followed by networking and a showcase of the all-electric BMW iX1 & iX2, a symbol of the brand’s commitment to forward-thinking innovation.
In addition to the two winning businesses, BMW Ireland proudly shortlisted eight exceptional finalists, each demonstrating innovation, purpose, and entrepreneurial flair across a range of industries. From Meath, A Sorted Affair is a professional organising duo founded by Kim Fitzgerald and Lyn Luxford, helping clients declutter and style their homes for more functional living. Venue Golf Ireland, organised by Lucy Condon in Kilkenny, curates women’s golf events at iconic locations like Kilkea Castle and Tulfarris, blending sport with tailored overnight experiences. Dublin-based Cloud Pilates, led by Ali Hayes, offers accessible Pilates classes and community pop-up events focused on wellness and connection.
Near Cashel, Banór, founded by Elaine Crosse and Nicole Lyons, combines farm-born ingredients and skincare science to create lanolin and sheep’s milk-based natural skincare. Ogam, founded by Jay Choi in Cork, is a Korean BBQ sauce brand rooted in traditional family recipes, bringing bold, authentic flavours to Irish kitchens. Flower Pop, run by Heather Condren in Inchicore, is an award-winning floral studio known for its vibrant, colour-rich arrangements and creative workshops. Cork-based We Are Riley, founded by Fiona Parfrey, Aine Kilkenny, and Lauren Duggan, champions sustainable period care with eco-conscious products and a mission to drive period equity. Finally, One More Thing, led by Vivian Wong in Kildare, is a creative floral design studio specialising in preserved flowers and bespoke arrangements that combine artistic flair with thoughtful storytelling.
This initiative reaffirms BMW Ireland’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and supporting the future of Irish enterprise. With a strong history in supporting start-up ventures this year, The BMW Start Up Garage is celebrating its tenth anniversary. This venture client unit seeks out innovations that deliver real benefits for the BMW Group’s products, services, systems and processes. The aim of the programme is to evaluate startups and enable them as long-term partners for the BMW Group, as a way of strengthening the company’s innovation leadership. Its achievements so far: 4,700 startups assessed, joint projects with more than 220 fledgling companies from 26 countries, and a total of 30 startups now established as suppliers, service providers and an integral part of the BMW Group network. For more information, please visit HERE.
In addition to supporting Start-Up businesses, BMW Group also supports Catena-X, the first globally trusted and collaborative data ecosystem for the automotive industry. From large corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises, this data ecosystem is open to all players in the automotive industry. The platform aims to leverage its transparent and cooperative thinking as a basis to address future challenges such as CO2 reduction, supply chain security and the circular economy. Above all, Catena-X is intended to improve the quality of the vehicles. Because fewer recalls also mean fewer resources and lower costs.
For more information on BMW Ireland and its current initiatives, please visit https://discover.bmw.ie/.
